Gen Raheel Sharif valued partner against terrorism, says US

The United States on Tuesday said that it sees Pakistani Army Chief General Raheel Sharif as a valued and respected partner in the war against terrorism.

According to a report in ‘Dawn’, a US State Department spokesperson made these remarks while responding to a question on Gen Sharif’s retirement on Nov 29.

The report says that the Nawaz Sharif government is likely to announce the appointment of the new Army chief on Saturday.

When asked to comment on the appointment of the new Army chief in Pakistan, the State Department spokesperson said that any transition in the Pakistan Army was an internal matter of the country and it was only appropriate that any statement regarding this change should come from its government.

“We have seen the reports about the chief of army staff transition. This is an internal Pakistani matter, and I would direct you to the government of Pakistan for any further information,” the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the US embassy in Islamabad has also issued a statement on Gen Raheel Sharif’s retirement.

“We have seen the statements from ISPR announcing that Gen Raheel Sharif is stepping down as Chief of Army Staff at the end of his three-year term.” the statement said.

The statement noted that Gen Sharif was “a valued and respected partner in the regional fight against terrorism throughout his years as army chief”.